Case for ophthalmic mountings



Aug. 9, W49. H. F. HUTTEMEYER CASE FOR OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 4945 INVENTOR. HER/WWII! E HUTTEMEYE/EATTOR EY Aug. 9, 1949. H. F. HUTTEMEYER 2,478,269

CASE FOR OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGS Filed June 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. HEP/WEN F HUTTEME YEE ATTO Patented Aug. 9, 1949 CASE FOROPHTHALMIQ MOUNTINGS Herman F. Huttemeyer, Southbridge, Mass; as-'signer to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass., a, voluntaryassociation of Massachusetts Application June 25, 1945, Serial No.601,494

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in cases for ophthalmicmountings, and has particular ference to new and novel closure means andmethod of making the same.

A principal object of the invention is to provide closure means whichwill eliminate to a great extent the entrance of dust, dirt etc. intothe interior of the case, thus preventing the lenses from becomingscratched or soiled.

Another object is to provide a case construction and method of makingthe same whereby all of the major parts thereof may be formed integrallyand by a single blanking operation from sheet material.

Another object is to provide means for concealing as much of themounting as possible and yet provide a compact and durable construction.Another object is to provide closure means for cases of the above naturewhich may be folded to overlie the ends of the temples to affordprotection thereof.

Another object is to provide an article of this nature which will besimple, compact and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and it will be seen that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction, arrangement of parts and method withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as expressed "in theaccompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to theexact details of construction and method shown and described as thepreferred form only has been given by way of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a front elevational view of the case embodying the invention,with an ophthalmic mounting, shown in dot and dash lines, in position ofuse in said case.

Fig. II is an end view of the case shown in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a sectional view of the case, as taken on line IIIIII ofFig. I.

Fig. IV is a plan view of the single piece of material from which thecase is formed.

Fig. V is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the case.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters ofreference designate the parts throughout the several views, the caseembodying the invention is preferably constructed of a flexible materialsuch as leather, treated cloth or other suitable material and is formedfrom a single piece of material Ill blanked out to the shape shown inFig. IV. The blanked'out member Ill has a portion H; which, when infolded position in superimposed relation with the portion l2 forms thefront wall of the pocket of the case with the portion [2 forming therear wall. The portions H and [2 are adapted to be connected togetheralong their outer edges by stitching or the like l3, as shown in Fig. I,thus forming a pocket l4 having an open mouth portion throughout itstop. I The pocket is adapted to receive the ophthalmic mounting l5 asshown in dot and dash lines in Figs. I, II and III. A reinforcing memberI6 of any suitable rigid material is adapted to lie against and beattached to the bottom and end walls of the pocket portion 14. Thismember l6 will aid the flexible material of the case to form an openpocket for the reception of an ophthalmic mounting.

The back wall portion H of the blank It is provided with a flap-likeextension I! which is foldable over the open end or mouth portion of thepocket l4 and is adapted to wrap about the lower end thereof and toextend upward over a portion of the back wall. The end of the extensionor flap I1 is provided with the female member iii of a snap fastener [9,which is adapted to cooperate with a male member 20, secured to the rearwall of the case. A block 21' of wood or other suitable material isinterposed between the front and rear walls and is preferably secured tothe rear wall by the screw portion 22 of the male member 20 of the snapfastener, but any other suitable means may be employed for securing theblock to the rear wall. The block 21, which is tapered, is locatedcentrally of the interior of the case and will provide supporting meansfor the bridge portion of the ophthalmic mounting.

The upper end portion 23 of the front wall H is of a shape which, whenthe pocket is formed will space the edges thereof inwardly of the edgesof the back wall portion. The spacing of the edges of the front wallfrom the edges of the rear wall will provide clearances 24 at the sidesof the case whereby the temples 25 of the ophthalmic mounting may befolded over the front Wall, as shown in Fig. I.

The back wall portion I2 is also provided with additional closure meansat each side thereof in the form of elongated tongues 26 and 21. Thesetongues are adapted to be folded over the adjacent portions of the mouthof the pocket on a line at an angle to the line of the fold of the flapmember I! and will overlie the ends of the ophthalmic mounting l5 andextend under the flap I I as shown in Fig. I.

It will be seen that when an ophthalmic mounting is positioned withinthe case with the temples folded to overlie the front wall, the tongues26 and 21 are folded to overlie the adjacent portions of the mounting.The said tongues will alsooverlie a portion of the temples and will beheld in said position by the flap H. The flap I! will, in this.

position, also overlie the ends of the temples. With this construction,the upper side portions, of the pocket will be substantially entirelycoveredto prevent the entrance of dust, dirt, etcrfrom, entering thepocket of the case, thus preventing soiling or the possible scratchingof the lenses. The temples will also be covered and protected by theflap. In the modification shown in Fig. V, the elongated tongues 28 and29 are of such a length as to overlie each other and each is providedwith an, interlocking part of a snap fastener or other suitableconnection means 30.

From, the; foregoing description, it will be, seen that applicant has,rovided simple, efficient and economical means and method ofaccomplishing all, the. objects, and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A, case for an ophthalmic mounting comprising; a, unitary piece offlexible material embodying front and rear portions, said portions beingsecured together along their side, edges to .Provide, a pocket for themounting, said rear portion having'a flap, portion adapted to be foldedandextended over the front portion and wrapped ahoutthe lower end of thepocket, and connection means carried by the rear portion for conneotionwith the flap portion, said rear portion having, elongated tongueportions disposed on either side of; the flap portion with said tongueportions being foldable along a fold disposed at an acute angle to thetop fold of the flap portion and with their ends fittable over the frontportion and: under the flap portion whereby said flap p rtion andelongated tongue portions function cooperatively as closure means forthe pocket,

2. A case, for an ophthalmic mounting comprising a unitary piece offlexible material embodying' front and rear portions, said portionsbeing secured together along their side edges to provideapocket for themounting, said rear portion having a flap portion adapted to be folded"and extended over the front portion and wrapped about the lower end ofthe pocket, and connection means carried by the rear portion forconnection with the flap portion, said rear portion having elongatedtongue portions disposed on either side of the flap portion with saidtongue portions being foldable along a fold disposed at an acute angleto the top fold of the flap portion and with their ends fittable betweenthe front portion and the flap portion whereby said flap portion andelongated tongue portions function cooperatively as closure means forthe pocket, and means for detachably connecting the end portions of saidelongated, tongue portions with each other.

3. A case.- of the character described comprising a unitary Dieee of:flexible material folded to position major portions thereof insuperimposed relation with each other to form the front and rear wallsof the case, said major portions being secured together along their sideedges to provide a, pocket having an open end, said major portionshaving as a part. thereof a flap portion adapted to bev folded andextended over the central portion of the open end of the pocket, andelongated tongue portions located on either side of. the flap portionand foldable along folds disposed at acute angles to the fold of the,flap portlon and to positions overlying the respective outer endportions of said' open end of the pocket and having portionspositionable beneath the flap portion whereby said flap portion andelongated tongue portions function cooperatively as closure means forthe pocket, and means for detachably connecting the flap portion to thecase when in closed, position.

HERMAN F. HUTTEMEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN'IS Number Name Date D. 140,142 Jerry Jan. 30, 1945917,383 Von'Eschenet al. Apr. 6, 1909 1,172,204. Gerhardstein Feb. 15,1916 1,311,923 Smith Aug. 5, 1919 2,423,338 Nathan July 1, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 21, 14 Great. Britain 1895,

